Key holder



April 1l, 1951 E. CAPITANI 2,978,897

KEY HOLDER Filed Aug. 2e, 1957 INVENTOR. ELtO CAPITANl @QMQMW ATTORNEY United States Patent KEY HOLDER Elio Capitani, 33 Jefferson St., Waukegan, Ill.

Filed Aug. 26, 1957, Ser. No. 680,234

3 Claims. (Cl. 70-456) This invention relates in general to key holders and in particular to a key holder in which individual keys may be easily removed from and rep-laced in a key case.

Insofar as l am aware key cases of this general type require that a master pin or locking device be removed before the keys are free to be removed. One dis-advantage of this type of key holder is that all the keys are released when the locking device is operated and keys can be dropped and lost if not handled properly.

It is highly desirable in a key holder to be able to remove individual keys such Ias an ignition key for a motor vehicle when packing same in a parking lot or garage, or a home or ollice key, etc., without disturbing or giving up possession of the rest of the keys.

In my invention the primary object is to provide a key case in which individual keys are mounted for easy removal or insertion las desired.

Another object of my invention is to provide a fully universal swivel arrangement so the key can turn and swing in all directions when exposed from the key case and also can lie ilat against either side of the key case.

And one more object of my invention is to provide a freely movable link for each key of suicient length so the key can be swung to fully exposed position with respect to the key case where it can be easily used for its intended purpose.

And still another object of my invention is to provide means for keeping each key aligned in the holder so they will not cross each other, thereby keeping the key holder at minimum bulk.

Other objects and `advantages as well as the construction and manner of use of my invention will be better understood by reference to the following specification in connection with the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. l is an isometric assembly view of my invention with a fragmentary portion of the case shown.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged disassociated view showing the elements of the key holder.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged partially disassociated sectional View of the upper end of the key holder showing details of the snap fastener.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged cross sectional view, partly in elevation showing the flipover `function of the key holder.

Referring now to the drawing by numerals of reference, 1 designates any suitable case for a key holder formed of leather, plastic or the like provided if desired with side llaps 2 which may overlap the keys 3;

A mounting strip 4 may be fastened to the case 1 by suitable fastening members such as rivets 4 or the like and `with a suitable cement.

A plate 5 covers one side of the mounting strip` 4 and i may be suitably fastened thereto by edge flanges 6. Plate 5 is formed with a plurality -of parallel ribs 7 which form pockets or receptacles 7 for the reception and guiding of snap links or retaining lelements 8 into position in respective pockets.

Complemental snap fastener elements are provided Patented Apr. 11, 1,961

which include gripping members 9 on mounting strip 4 in alignment with the pockets 7, with apertures 9 n the plate 5 in `.alignment with said gripping members, and a tip 10 on each snap flink 8 adapted to pass through aperture 9' and engage the respective gripping member 9.`

Snap link 8 is so formed that loop 11 may swing and slide freely in the snap link, the loopl 11 being provided with a central transverse rib 12 to prevent excessive twisting of the loop. The loop 11 carries the bearing end 14 of a free swinging strap having spaced sides 15 provided with opposed apertures '16 to form a support for and retain head 17 of swivel pin 18, saidl pin being capable of substantially universal movement between said sides 15.

The short shank of pin 18 terminates on plate 19 to which a spring loop 20 is secured, a free end 21 of the loop engaging stop 22 on plate 19 for release to removably receive a key 3.

As shown in Figs. l and 4, the keys on their holders can lie flat against either side of the container, the loop 11 in sna plink 8 permitting free and complete movement of the key. Also, with the construction of snap link 8 as shown, the link can be snapped into place with loop 11 at the top or bottom of the link and after it is snapped into place the key can be permitted to fall into proper position in the holder.

One very -important detail is the provision of pockets 7 of suicient length so that the link 8, loop 11 and strap 14`15 all lie Within the pocket, keeping each key in substantial alignment within the container, preventing the criss crossing of keys as is so prevalent in most key containers and thereby keeping the bulk down to a minimum.

Each key will have full and complete freedom of movement when exposed from the container, making for a much more practical and useful key holder than any now existing. Also, any key can be quickly andeasily removed from or replaced in the key container in an extremely simple and expeditious manner by merely pulling or jerking the key substantially at right angles to the plate S to release the snap members 9 and 10.

Obviously, changes in form, proportion and details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of my invention and I reserve all rights to such changes as come within the scope of this specification and the claims which follow.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. In la key holder, mounting means including a plate shaped to define a series of iixed, parallel pockets, one member of a pair of complemental fastening elements in each said pocket, a link for each of said pockets supporting the other member of said pair of complemental fastening elements for releas-able engagement with said one member in each of said pockets, said pockets aligning said links in parallel relationship, said links forming parallel slide means, and key supporting means slidably and pivotally connected to each said link for slidable movement from a lower position for retaining a key in the holder and an upper position for placing the key in readiness for use, said pivotal connection affording free angular movement of the key outside the holder.

2. In va key holder, mounting means including a plate, a series of snap fastener elements on said plate, a series of links each forming a slide means, a complemental snap fastener element on each of said links for engagement with an element on said plate, a loop interlocked with each said link for pivotal and slidable movement relatively thereto, said slidable movement affording positioning of the key within the holder or at a desired location outside of the holder selectively, and key holding means pivotally connected with each said loop.

3 a series of snap fastener elements iixed to said plate, a series of retaining elements, a snapy fastener element complemental to those on said plate' on each of said retaining elements, a loophaving a free swinging and sliding inter- 'lockV with each retaining element for movement between a lower position for holding la ,key in the holder and an upper position for presenting a key in a desired location for use, `a strap pivoted to each said loop, a spring loop for each said strap to directly hold a key, and swivel means connecting each said strap and said spring loop affording universal movement for said spring loop in co- References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Marymont Mar. 30, 1926 YMiles July 2, 1929 Behrman et al ...s May 26, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain T. Aug. 13, 1952 

